What? I am Pregnant?!
Yep! That is right! I am pregnant!
I am already 19 weeks so I have been able to tell a lot of people in person which has been fun. I don't really like to post personal things on facebook, so I haven't announced it on there... and we'll see if I do. But I figured I would announce it on my blog. Why not I figured. One of the reasons I keep a blog is for me to have a record of different life experiences. So here are the highlights and lowlights of being pregnant thus far.
We found out we were expecting on Jan. 1st and we can't think of a better way to have started out the new year (although technically I knew weeks earlier that I was pregnant. I started getting some pregnancy symptoms right away).
Most memorable response to our big news: Well that didn't take you long. -Dad (mine)
(5 min. after I told her) Wait, so did you just tell me you were pregnant or did I just think that? -Colette
First Trimester highlights lowlights: The first trimester was horrible. Well that isn't entirely true. The first 5 weeks were great. But week 6-14 were not! In fact they were miserable. And I attribute me getting through those weeks to my naivety. I kept thinking it could be worse because I had heard of people losing 15 pounds and I had only lost 5-10lbs. Pretty much I was nauseous constantly. There were two weeks were I could only eat fruit. And there were days were I would throw up three times a day. I didn't take any prescriptions (once again, I just kept thinking it wasn't that bad... just to clarify though, it was that bad). Somehow through all of this I managed to go to work. I only called in sick one day during all those weeks (and there was one day where I showed up half an hour late because I had to throw up right as I was leaving). And we continued to attend the temple regularly. But that is all I did. Nothing else. I didn't clean. I didn't cook. I didn't go out. Nothing. That all, couple with the inversion and no sun, really affected me emotionally. It was pretty rough and I am so happy to be past that all.
Second Trimester Highlights: I don't feel sick anymore. I don't really crave food (except one time I wanted a baked potato) but I can eat most foods even though they may not sound that appetizing. I am cooking, cleaning, getting ready, and being productive again! And the sun came out! All those things combined have really perked my emotional and mental health state! I can see why everyone says the second trimester is their favorite and I am trying to just soak in all these good days!
Gender News: I will get an ultrasound when I am 21 weeks along. However we will not find out the gender of the baby until... well it comes out! That's right we are keeping it a surprise. I hear all the time that I am crazy or that you wouldn't be able to do that. To be honest I wasn't sure I would be able to do it with my first either. I knew that I wanted to wait to find out the gender, but I always thought it would be with my other babies, not the first one. I thought I would need to prepare. However I have been able to talk to a few moms out there who have waited to find out with their first and they have given me the courage to make it happen with this one instead of waiting. Besides everybody use to have to wait... so it's not like others haven't been able to prepare for a baby when they didn't know the gender. We are so excited, and I am hoping this extra surprise at the end of the birth will help give me the strength I need during labor!
First Movements: During the 18th and 19th weeks and I would feel something, and guess that I was feeling the baby. The first time I felt the baby move, and knew for certain that it was the baby was this last Sunday morning during General Conference, and during Niel L. Anderson to be more specific. It was such a neat experience because the baby moved enough that I was able to feel it move, recognize what it was, realize you could feel it from the outside as well, and have Marshall feel it! Since then he (I will refer to the baby here on out as he, because it is easier) hasn't moved long enough for Marshall to be able to feel him again. But that will all change soon, I am sure.
We are so excited! And a little scared. But don't worry, my pregnancy apps all let me know how normal it is to feel both of those :). And I am sure I will feel a whole array of other emotions as we continue on this journey. More than anything, we and I, feel blessed! And we are so thankful for this opportunity that we will have to begin our family. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing right now. And then right after that I remember how big of a commitment this is, and how hard it will be and I get a little scared. But that is normal, right?
